Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 15 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Irving
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($86,200 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $593/mo less ($830 vs $1,423)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $35,243/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 4.1%)
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $35,243 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$173k less
$86,200 vs $259,500
Irving
Median Income
$35,243
$76,686 vs $41,443/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
79% lower
275.4 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 10.0% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $259,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 15 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 8 and Irving wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Dayton to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $259,500 median home), income ($41,443 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Irving, TX are about 856 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.